Air pollution and climate change

Transport is one of the main sources of air pollution, for which evidence on direct effects on mortality as well as on respiratory and cardiovascular disease is firmly established.

About 100 000 premature adult deaths attributable to air pollution occur each year in the WHO European Region. Emissions from road traffic account for a significant share of this burden.

Some 40 million people in the 115 largest cities in the European Union (EU) are exposed to air exceeding WHO air quality guideline values for at least one pollutant.

Children living near roads with heavy-duty vehicle traffic have twice the risk of respiratory problems as those living near less congested streets.

Indirect effects, such as the wide range anticipated from climate change, are becoming increasingly evident.

Transport is the fastest growing source of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions, the largest contributor to climate change. In the 25 EU countries in 2004, transport accounts for approximately 35% of total energy consumption, resulting in a 20% net increase of greenhouse-gas emissions over the past decade, due to a rise in transport volumes that outweighs improvements in vehicle efficiency